Why can't I add a phone number to my microsoft account????!!!!!!!!!

Question

Why can't I add a phone number to my microsoft account????!!!!!!!!!

M Awad 0

I was prompted by outlook to check my microsoft account for sign in options. My phone number "needed attention" so I requested to send an SMS. I waited 5 minutes, nothing. So I removed the phone number to add it again because I noticed it didn't have the country code. Just after I removed it, the SMS arrived AND there's literally no way to add any phone number back!!!!!! Like, how can you ruin such a simple concept????

After opening dozens of recent support pages, I found this official guide https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/add-or-change-your-phone-number-5a31a5f8-9c8f-4734-b149-223184ec3461

Only thing is, it doesn't work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Answer 1

SD - IA 180.3K Independent Advisor

Hi,

I apologize for the confusion. I had assumed that you could add a phone number, but it won't send a code.

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Answer 2

Hornblower409 16,040

@M Awad said

there's literally no way to add any phone number back

Correct. Microsoft has deprecated that ability. If you have an existing number you can keep it, but you can't change it. And if you remove it, you can't add back a new one.

See the Answer by Hornblower409 Jul 24, 2026" in
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5899469/having-trouble-adding-phone-number-to-microsoft-ac

M Awad 0 Reputation points

2026-09-20T03:45:02.34+00:00

My email holds keys to every aspect of my life, including financial and professional aspects. Why should I lose one of the trusted ways to sign in and leave it all to some random authenticator?
Hornblower409 16,040 Reputation points

2026-09-20T05:08:52.0566667+00:00

@M Awad said

Why should I lose one of the trusted ways to sign in [SMS Text]

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/manage/microsoft-to-stop-sending-sms-codes-for-personal-accounts

Answer 3

Hi,
Adding a phone number is not working for other users as well, for which I have seen reports since yesterday. Please wait for a day or two, this should get sorted out.

If you haven't already, please go to https://account.microsoft.com and send feedback in the bottom right. This helps thje team investigate.

A friendly reminder that this is a user-to-user forum where users help other users. Experts or Advisors participating here cannot make changes to Microsoft services or access internal systems and can only provide technical guidance, irrespective of Microsoft's Policy decisions.

I hope this information helps. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to reach out. Wishing you good luck!